Cloudy Bay and its influence on the worldwide wine trade
The success of Cloudy Bay when it first launched in 1985 undoubtedly put New Zealand on the world wine map. Since then, New Zealand’s wine trade has grown faster in a single technology than anybody can fairly imagine. Marlborough’s vineyards now cowl round 27,000 hectares and the area represents greater than 60% of all New Zealand vineyards and produces 70% of all New Zealand wines. Cloudy Bay’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has develop into iconic world wide.
After bringing the world’s consideration to Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay turned its gaze to Otago, the place it started to champion Pinot Noir. Earlier than 1987, there have been no vineyards in Otago. Deep in sheep farming nation, it was an unlikely place to develop grapes. And but simply 20 years later, Central Otago’s plots of prime vineyards grew ninefold. The world’s southernmost wine area now has its personal iconic standing.
Davis Hohnen (pictured) launched Cloudy Bay into worldwide acclaim in 1985, alongside winemaker Kevin Judd.
Cloudy Bay’s winemaking philosophy
Now celebrating it’s fortieth anniversary, high quality stays Cloudy Bay’s obsession, hallmark and promise. The model is aware of making distinctive wines takes acute consideration to element in all facets of wine manufacturing.
Within the vineyards, yields are round 30% decrease than the regional common. Within the vineyard, the expertise used ensures solely the perfect grapes are chosen for every wine. It would imply fewer bottles, but it surely all the time means higher wine.
This philosophy was seen in motion via the distinctive 2024 classic. As John Flanagan, Viticulture Director, explains, the areas had: ‘a cool begin to the season, which resulted in lower-than-normal yields. [But] the summer time months had been scorching, dry, and as near good as we might presumably hope for. The grapes ripened underneath preferrred situations, enabling us to select the fruit on the optimum time to maximise flavour and focus.’
It doesn’t matter what the season or climate, the excellent technical talent of the group, allied to their long-term philosophy, means customers will all the time see the very best high quality wines emerge from Cloudy Bay.
Cloudy Bay’s success has as a lot to do with the standard of land on which its vineyards are located.
The vineyards
In addition to the technical and inventive talent of its folks, Cloudy Bay’s success has as a lot to do with the standard of land it owns throughout the South Island.
Marlborough
In Marlborough the model farms 163 parcels of vines and 65 grower blocks. These parcels nearer to the Wairau River have stony, sandy and free-draining soils, which are perfect for the enduring Sauvignon Blanc. Additional south of the river within the Southern Valleys, the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards love the heavy clay-based soils. These soils and Marlborough’s maritime local weather work in concord to set the stage for Cloudy Bay’s charming fashion of wine.
Central Otago
Cloudy Bay’s two Central Otago vineyards have complementary terroirs. Calvert, in Bannockburn, has loamy, silty soils and mild slopes that produce wines with advantageous tannins and silky textures. Northburn’s rocky, glacial soils and excessive slopes produce wines of construction and depth. Mixing grapes from the 2 contrasting websites offers the Cloudy Bay Te Wāhi Pinot Noir its poise and energy.
Associated articles
Cloudy Bay: Elevating a glass to 40 years of New Zealand’s most interesting
Cloudy Bay: A Sauvignon Blanc success story
Cloudy Bay at 40: Elevating a glass to a recreation changer
Uncover extra about Cloudy Bay
Join on
Fb | Instagram | YouTube
